England coach Fabio Capello has said he believes he can take England to the World Cup final for the first time since it became world champion under Alf Ramsey in 1966.

"I think I can take England further than Bobby Robson in 1990, why not? We need to be ambitious," Capello said in an FA statement.

"I have always worked to arrive at the top. I have been with Roma, Juventus, Milan, Real Madrid and always wanted to go to the very top. I don't understand why people feel differently."

Capello, who took over the England team in January after it was eliminated from next month's Euro 2008 finals, has been in charge for two matches.

He made his statement to the English FA's website (www.thefa.com) before friendlies against the United States and Trinidad & Tobago over the next week.

Since England won the World Cup almost 42 years ago, the nearest it has been to the final was 18 years ago when Bobby Robson's side lost to West Germany on penalties in the 1990 semifinals in Italy.

Capello won his first match in charge of England when it beat Switzerland 2-1 at Wembley before losing 1-0 to France in Paris.

He has three more friendlies, including a game against the Czech Republic in August, before the start of England's World Cup qualifying campaign.

"We have good material here and have been competitive against every team. My ambition is to arrive at the top. You have to work to change the mentality. I believe we can do that but the players must also believe. By September I will have the full picture."

He also said he was keen for the national side to start doing as well as club teams in Europe after Manchester United and Chelsea played out the first all-English Champions League final last week.

"You have to transmit the same ambitions to the England team," he said.

"When a player puts on the England shirt you have to play with a certain kind of spirit and that is very important."

England meets the US at Wembley Stadium on Wednesday before flying to Trinidad & Tobago for next Sunday's friendly.

(Agencies via China Daily May 27, 2008)